“I don’t say exactly,” answered the Gascon, confused.

“Come, D’Artagnan, don’t let us play a sidelong game; your hesitation, your evasion, tells me at once on whose side you are; for that party no one dares openly to recruit, and when people recruit for it, it is with averted eyes and humble voice.”

“Ah!

my dear Athos!”

“You know that I am not alluding to you; you are the pearl of brave, bold men. I speak of that spiteful and intriguing Italian — of the pedant who has tried to put on his own head a crown which he stole from under a pillow — of the scoundrel who calls his party the party of the king — who wants to send the princes of the blood to prison, not daring to kill them, as our great cardinal —